A given instrumental performance exists as a gateway to the original work rather than being the work itself and as such a given performance is two works rather than one. In Thomas Mark’s Philosophy of Piano Playing: Reflections on the concept of Performance he makes the claim that a performance and a quotation are similar in concept, but performance requires an assertion. With the nature of assertion this account of a performance of an existing work becomes two works rather than one. However, while Mark is able to separate a performance from a quotation the nature of quotations greatly limits what constitutes a performance of a pre-existing work.
Mark uses the idea of quotations to explain the necessity of assertions in performances. Quotations, …show more content…
To elaborate the performance of a particular piece of music is not the art of the original piece itself, instead it is its own separate art, Mark claims that, " A work of music is the sort of thing that can have indefinitely many instances, each of which counts as a presentation of the work" (299). Though a performance is an individual work of art in itself, the performance allows for a gateway to reach the original composition of the score. Each time the piece is played it becomes a new work regardless of similarity as a singular performance cannot be repeated. A performance of Mozart’s Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, is just that – a performance – not the actual work composed and notated by Mozart. It is a performance independent to the particular time that the instrumentalist brings the instrument up to his or her lips until the song is completed. There exists a distinct difference between Mozart’s work and a performance of Mozart’s work, and therefore two separate works exist. This is because the performance is merely a quotation of the original work, with the assertion of what the performer believes the piece should be, Mozart as the composer is not present during this performance: “A work of music may be designed to call attention to the other work of art which is its performance. Some works are composed so as to
Mark uses the idea of quotations to explain the necessity of assertions in performances. Quotations, …show more content…
To elaborate the performance of a particular piece of music is not the art of the original piece itself, instead it is its own separate art, Mark claims that, " A work of music is the sort of thing that can have indefinitely many instances, each of which counts as a presentation of the work" (299). Though a performance is an individual work of art in itself, the performance allows for a gateway to reach the original composition of the score. Each time the piece is played it becomes a new work regardless of similarity as a singular performance cannot be repeated. A performance of Mozart’s Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, is just that – a performance – not the actual work composed and notated by Mozart. It is a performance independent to the particular time that the instrumentalist brings the instrument up to his or her lips until the song is completed. There exists a distinct difference between Mozart’s work and a performance of Mozart’s work, and therefore two separate works exist. This is because the performance is merely a quotation of the original work, with the assertion of what the performer believes the piece should be, Mozart as the composer is not present during this performance: “A work of music may be designed to call attention to the other work of art which is its performance. Some works are composed so as to